Vikalp Sansthan

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Child marriage puts young girl's health at risk and perpetuates poverty. We can stop this cycle.

Love Conquers Photography supports Vikalp Sansthan, a fearless nonprofit that has been fighting endlessly for the rights of young girls in Rajasthan, India, often referred to as "the child marriage capital of the world"

5% of your Wedding Investment will be donated to Vikalp Sansthan.

Vikalp co-founders Usha Choudhary and Yogesh Vaishnav (pictured far right) were invited to present as keynote speakers at the launch of the No Ceilings Initiative, hosted by the Clinton Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

40% of the world's child marriages occur in India. 13% of those occur in the state of Rajasthan. Based out of Udaipur, Rajasthan, Vikalp works to combat the effects of child marriage in two key ways: firstly by aiming to prevent child marriage wherever possible, and just as importantly by assisting girls who have been married as children to lead full, empowered lives. By fighting cultural norms that have been in place for generations, Vikalp works with girls, their families, and other stakeholders like schools, governments and marriage service providers to broaden community awareness about the negative effects of child marriage.

Girls who complete secondary school are SIX TIMES less likely to become child brides. However, many families in the developing world can't afford their daughter's education.Rather, due to cultural traditions and widely held beliefs, parents resort to marrying their daughters to ensure a good future. Would you believe that just $44 provides a child with textbooks and school supplies for one whole year? Or that a secondary school scholarship for a single girl costs only $143? Organizations like Vikalp Sansthan believe that girls education is one of the most sustainable investments to be made in keeping girls out of early marriage. Their education-driven approach helps to procure bright futures for potential child brides.

In addition, under the We Can End Violence Against Women campaign, Vikalp has created over 200,000 change makers (men and women alike) who have pledged to spread the message of equality and peace in their homes and communities through rallies, street plays, posters and pamphlets, and trainings and workshops around the issue of gender equity and nonviolence. Vikalp also organizes youth assemblies where youth change makers come together to share their work and learn from each other.

In just the past year:

74 villages have remained child marriage free,

40 Gram Panchayats have vowed to make their Panchayats free from child marriage.

More than 160,000 people have taken an oath never to perform or participate in a child marriage. Additionally, 16000 people have taken a written oath.

Numerous marriage service providers have refused to work for child marriages and have informed Vikalp of those that are taking place.

Peer counseling and awareness activities have led to significant change in the perceptions of gender norms and rights within communities.

More than 5,200 girls have been encouraged to pursue further education in 10th standard and higher, as a result of counseling with parents and actively enrolling girls.

330 schools are working closely with Vikalp to end child marriage in their communities through a combination of counseling for children, documenting school dropouts, conducting awareness raising campaigns and attempting to change the mindsets of parents.